Mastering Scientific Notation: Word Problems for Grade 6

A scientist measures the mass of a small particle as 3.5 x 10^-9 grams. If she finds another particle with a mass of 2.1 x 10^-9 grams, what is the total mass of both particles in scientific notation?

• 4.5 x 10^-9 grams

• 6.0 x 10^-9 grams

• 3.0 x 10^-9 grams

• 5.6 x 10^-9 grams

A car travels 1.2 x 10^3 kilometers in a week. If it travels 4.5 x 10^2 kilometers the next week, how many kilometers does it travel in total over the two weeks?

• 1650 kilometers

• 1450 kilometers

• 2000 kilometers

• 1200 kilometers

A factory produces 5.6 x 10^4 toys in a month. If it produces 3.2 x 10^4 fewer toys the next month, how many toys does it produce in the second month?

• 2.4 x 10^4

• 1.6 x 10^4

• 5.6 x 10^4

• 3.2 x 10^4

A researcher has 7.5 x 10^6 bacteria in a culture. If 2.3 x 10^5 bacteria die, how many bacteria remain in the culture?

• 7.27 x 10^6

• 7.0 x 10^6

• 7.5 x 10^6

• 2.3 x 10^5

A book has a weight of 1.2 x 10^2 grams. If a stack of 15 such books is weighed, what is the total weight of the stack in scientific notation?

• 1.8 x 10^3 grams

• 2.0 x 10^3 grams

• 1.2 x 10^2 grams

• 1.5 x 10^3 grams

A computer processes 3.4 x 10^8 calculations per second. If it runs for 2.5 x 10^2 seconds, how many calculations does it process in total?

• 9.0 x 10^10

• 7.5 x 10^10

• 8.5 x 10^10

• 6.0 x 10^10

A small town has a population of 1.5 x 10^4 people. If 3.2 x 10^3 people move away, what is the new population of the town in scientific notation?

• 1.2 x 10^4

• 1.5 x 10^4

• 3.2 x 10^3

• 1.18 x 10^4

A smartphone costs 8.5 x 10^2 dollars. If a discount of 1.5 x 10^2 dollars is applied, what is the final price of the smartphone in scientific notation?

• 7.5 x 10^2

• 8.0 x 10^2

• 7.0 x 10^2

• 6.5 x 10^2

A satellite orbits the Earth at a height of 4.2 x 10^7 meters. If it descends by 1.1 x 10^6 meters, what is its new height in scientific notation?

• 4.078 x 10^7

• 4.2 x 10^7

• 4.189 x 10^7

• 4.3 x 10^7

A farmer harvests 2.5 x 10^3 apples in one season. If he harvests 1.2 x 10^3 more apples the next season, how many apples does he harvest in total?

• 3.0 x 10^3

• 3.7 x 10^3

• 2.5 x 10^3

• 4.0 x 10^3